ONE Archives Foundation (ONE) announced the launch of Circa, the first queer histories festival in the United States, featuring programs and events held across Los Angeles County during LGBTQ+ History Month this October 2023. During its inaugural festival, Circa aims to showcase the trailblazing history and vibrant cultural contributions of the LGBTQ+ community through the lens of present-day challenges and triumphs.
“During these challenging times when states have advanced a record number of bills against LGBTQ+ rights, especially targeting trans youth and drag performers, Circa: Queer Histories Festival will convene our communities for dialogue, reflection, celebration, and mobilization,” said Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director of ONE Archives Foundation. “Our LGBTQ+ social movements of the past inform our present- day battles. And like the past, when people see our humanity, we win.”
Circa is a multidisciplinary festival spanning the arts, humanities, politics, and community, and will feature queer, trans, and allied thinkers and doers leading the movements for LGBTQ+ liberation and progress toward equality. The festival’s programming will include exhibitions, panel conversations, readings, performance, screenings, and more.
The Circa 2023 call for proposals invites queer, trans, and allied artists, activists, scholars, youth, educators, cultural institutions, and community
organizations to submit thought-provoking program proposals from across the arts, cultural, and humanities disciplines. In exchange for hosting and producing a program event, participating individuals and organizations will benefit from ONE’s robust marketing and publicity support, need-based stipend funds, and access to free venue space at one of our many partner locations, including ONE Gallery in West Hollywood, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the University of Southern California.
Additional information about deadlines, submission guidelines, and eligibility for Circa 2023 can be found here: <ahref=”http://onearchives.org/circa”>onearchives.org/circa.
“Circa will give us an opportunity to reflect and celebrate histories and the possibilities of our futures,” said Amitis Motevalli, artist and Director of The William Grant Still Art Center, and a member of Circa’s Steering Committee. “Through this festival, we realize that what we are living, what we create now, is vital history in the making.” Circa: Queer Histories Festival is helmed by ONE Archives Foundation with the meaningful support of a community-based Steering Committee consisting of sixteen of Los Angeles’ foremost activists, scholars, and cultural producers.
See below for a full list of members:
Erik Adamian, Board Chair, GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society; Jerri Allyn, activist and artist; Lynn Harris Ballen, activist, writer, and radio producer; Andy Campbell, critic, educator, and art historian; Holly M. Crawford, artist, Director of Adult Public Programs, LACMA; Samantha Eisenberg, queer activist; Rubén Esparza, multidisciplinary artist and curator; Tracy Fenix, curator and cultural producer; Chanelle Gallant, writer and feminist rights activist; Eric Kugler, writer and comedian; Ray Lopez-Chang, education equity organizer; Hugh McHarg, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, USC Libraries; Amitis Motevalli, Artist/Director of William Grant Still Arts Center; Rasheed Newson, author, executive producer, and showrunner; Marval A Rex, transmasculine actor, curator, and cultural producer; C. Jerome Woods, poet, curator, and collector.
Submit a program proposal for Circa 2023 by Monday, May 8, 2023: onearchives.org/circa.
Founded in 1952, ONE Archives Foundation is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the country, dedicated to telling LGBTQ+ history and stories through education, arts, and social justice programs.
